PromoFabrik Webblog: IONIC VISION finish their Complete Isolation

Belgian EBM legend Ionic Vision strikes back, this time to complete their isolated sessions.

In the vain of former isolated releases like Sweet Isolation (ION010), Fan Isolation (FION010), Bitter Isolation (ION011) in Europe, Bitter Isolation (ION012) in the USA and Erotic Isolation (DION013), this Belgian band keeps on paving the way to wipe out the narrow idea that EBM is just ‘simple’ music.

A solid set of remixing artists were invited, each with an interesting view on the master tracks from Ionic Visions chart tipping album Bitter Isolation (ION011), to finally give birth to this release.

With crispy dance floor acts like David Carretta, DJ Stamba and The Horrorist to sweaty and steamy pounding EBM acts like Orange Sector, Darkmen and AutoDafeh, this release takes you into a world where EBM has all sorts of faces. Next to this, Mute Records act Komputer for sure highlights the weirdest moment on this album, while Northborne and TET also enhance the EBM scope with smooth and groovy remix elements.

With a total set of 14 remixes, of which 12 never appeared on any digital format before, you won’t get a single moment to catch air, as each of these mixes is another edgy, danceable tight piece of electronic jewellery.

A great opportunity for every Ionic Vision fan to own a great set of mixes and a fine chance for all fans from the remixing artists to listen to what their favourite band have created on the foundations of pure EBM songs.

Biography:
While enjoying a diversity of electronic tunes of which Nitzer Ebb, Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk are their main influences, Sven Lauwers and Andy De Decker, decided in 1992 it was time to start making themselves what they had been listening too. Ionic Vision was born and after a set of tape releases, mostly with either odd designs, strange formats (12inch tape) or tapes accompanied by booklets, the release of a 3 track VHS, cdr’s, the trio signed in 1996 to the German cult label Khazad-Dhum (Sub-division of Celtic Circle Productions) taking them up to a higher level.

This signing saw the release of their debut cd Rage Against the Acoustic (ION002), up to date one of their most sought after and appreciated release. Their everlasting statement “Rage Against The Acoustic”, made it clear to the public that Ionic Vision was not aiming at any or thé commercial movement of that time, cross-over. For years to come Ionic Vision struggled hard to keep the true EBM spirit alive, a spirit highly lost interest at that period !

Right before the decline of CCP/Khazad Dhum and after setting up their own recording area, the Ionic Data Base, a mysterious haze seemed to cover the band. No interviews, no compilation appearances, no live performances,…Tongues claimed the band had split up, moved on to put their unstoppable energy in new projects ! During that period Ionic Vision did remix a plethora of artists and even helped some bands who knocked their door asking them for help recording their first demo. All that made it look as if Ionic Vision didn't have much time left for themselves which in the end lead to a band crisis and slowly all they had build up started to fade.

But Andy and Sven struck back together with the well appraised US label DSBP. A special US only compilation CD called Homo Sovieticus (ION004) and a remix CD MaschinenAngst (ION005) which was a surprise to many due to its versatile content did put Ionic Vision back on track.

In 2002, Ionic Vision did celebrate 10 years of existence when releasing 2 versions of NeuMaschinen, a title that speaks for itself. Not only were they ready to unleash their new machines, but Ionic Vision from there on back became a three some. Former CCP producer Louis Zachert joined to work behind the scenes of Ionic Vision

Hardly getting any respect for being at the front of the upcoming new boom of EBM bands, Ionic Vision made another weird decision and released an EP and a 12inch vinyl called "In Between (ION007)". Never tried before by the band they were remixed by Techno masters Terence Fixmer (today better known in the EBM scene for his work with Nitzer Ebb's Douglas Mccarthy) and Thomas P Heckmann. All this boosted them, not only out of the narrow EBM scene, but also straight into a more club-orientated direction, highlighting their versatile style of EBM. After this amazing follow-up by DJs, mags and clubs, the threesome worked hard to raise the respect, improving the standards they did set with their come-back.

End 2005 they released the praised full-CD Actual (ION009). With mixed comments, some critics did quote it as 'going back to the roots, hard-core', others quoted that this release pushed the standards for other current EBM bands really high, maybe even too high, that the album reached the top of what is possible with this music, the perfect combination between the old roots with the modern technical possibilities of today…

Returning in 2008 with an even more rock-solid belief that EBM is more than the 4/4 thumping beat and bass sequence, Ionic Vision raised their high quality standards again! With this time an even more impressive list of collaborating artist they revealed the result of what they did announce as ‘The Isolated Sessions”. With the aid of artists like Orange Sector, David Carretta, DJ Stamba and even more The Horrorist (Oliver Chesler), Mute records act Komputer, Ionic Vision released no less than a club EP, 2 full CD’s (US and European version), two special download only E’sP, a 12inch club vinyl, two special fan club releases, the re-release in digital format of their first three releases and to complete it all a remix album

18 Years after the foundation their eternal rage against the acoustic is not over yet! Ionic Vision will be doing several gigs in which opening for their eternal biggest example Nitzer Ebb is a highlight for their career. Next to doing gigs, they are working hard on a new album, hopefully to see light of day in 2010?

Bandmembers:
Sven Lauwers (vox, synths)
Andy De Decker (vox, synths)
Louis Zachert (fx, engineering)

Release-Date:
January 22nd, 2010

Genre:
Electro / New Wave / EBM

Year of foundation:
1992

Tracklisting:
01. new breed - northborne remix
02. bitter isolation - sweet aggro mix
03. she is - banged
04. die macht - the horrorist remix
05. new breed - club amour remix
06. she is - deep throat
07. bitter isolation - ironic decision mix
08. die macht - virus mix
09. sleep - david carretta re-remix
10. she is - aural
11. bitter isolation - enhanced by komputer
12. sleep - arp remix
13. die macht - r010r remix
14. bitter isolation – completed

Discography:
Einen Tanz Träumen II (Cass, Ltd) - 1992
Total Madness (Cass Maxi, S/Sided, Ltd) - 1993 
Der Totale Krieg (Cass) - 1994
Der Totale Krieg (Cass, Ltd) - 1994 
Dirty Video Show (VHS, PAL) - 1994
Prospects (Cass Maxi) - 1994 
Split (Cass) - 1994 
Violent Playground (Cass, Ltd) - 1995
Violent Playground (CDr) - 1995 
Prophecy (ION001) (CD, Maxi) - 1996
Rage Against The Acoustic (ION002) (CD) - 1997
The End (ION003) (CD, Maxi) - 1997 
The End (LION003) (CD, Maxi, Ltd) - 1997 
Homo Sovieticus (ION004) (CD, Album, Ltd) - 1999
MaschinenAngst (ION005) (CD, Album) - 2001 
MaschinenKlang (CION005) (Cass Single) - 2001 
Neumaschinen (ION006) (CD, Album) - 2002 
Neumaschinen (XION006) (CD, Album, Ltd) - 2003
In Between (ION007) (CD, Maxi) - 2003
In Between (VION007) (12") - 2003 
Casual (TION008) (Shirt) - 2005
Actual (ION009) (CD, Album) - 2005
Sweet Isolation (ION010) (CD, Maxi) - 2008 
Sweet Isolation (DION010) (File, MP3, I-T) - 2008
Fan Isolation (FION010) (CDr, EP) - 2008 
Club Isolation (VION010) (12") - 2008 
Club Isolation (DION010L) (File, MP3, I-T- 2008 
David Carretta Isolation (DION010XL) (File, AAC, Single) - 2008 
Bitter Isolation Europe (ION011) (CD, Album) - 2008
Bitter Isolation USA (ION012) (CD, Album) - 2008 
Heresy (DION001) (File, AAC, Comp) - 2008
Rage Against The Acoustic (DION002) (File, AAC, Album)) - 2008
Erotic Isolation (DION013) (File, AAC, i-T) - 2008 
Complete Isolation (ION014) (CD) - 2010 
Complete Isolation (LION014) (DCD, Ltd) - 2010
Final Isolation (DION015) (File, AAC, i-T) – 2010  

Our release tags explained:  L = Limited, D = Download, C = Cassette, V = Vinyl, X = 10 (released for our 10th anniversary), T = T-shirt, F = Fan-club release only,
Suffix L and XL stand for limited and extra limited

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